Tracey Winter and Martailo Win Draper Equine Therapy Sponsored Grand Prix Special at Gold Coast Grand Finale I

Tracey Winter, who owns Tranquility Dressage in Wellington, FL, turned in another consistent ride at the Gold Coast Dressage Association’s Grand Finale I show, winning the Grand Prix Special on her long-time partner Martailo. Draper Equine Therapy, makers of therapeutic horse and rider products featuring the innovative “smart fiber” textile Celliant™/Holofiber®, sponsored Winter’s class held at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center.

“Martailo is always very consistent. I know I have the same horse at home that I do at the show,” Winter said, adding that she is looking forward to trying the products from Draper Equine Therapy.

“We have really enjoyed sponsoring the winter dressage season in South Florida, and we offer Tracey our congratulations,” said Kat Wojtylak, Product Manager of Draper Equine Therapy. “It’s been an amazing winter season for so many talented riders and certainly for Tracey also. She is going to really enjoy our products, and we look forward to hearing how much.”

Winter described her partnership with the 17-year-old Martailo as “thrilling.” Winter bought Martailo when he was only five-months-old, and brought him up through the dressage levels by herself. “He’s really come a long way, including winning Championship and Reserve Championship at Regionals every year,” Winter said. “He had two bouts with laminitis while at second level, and we almost had to put him down. He managed to come back from that and make it to Grand Prix and that is truly a gift. I am thankful to have a horse like him to ride every day.”

Martailo, a Trakehner/Thoroughbred, has a long list of accomplishments to his name, including being named the 2008 Gold Coast Dressage Association Year-End Open Grand Prix Champion and the 2008 Year-End Trakehner Champion. In 2009, Martailo was awarded the Trakehner Verband Award, donated by the German Trakehner Verband for the most successful Trakehner in dressage.

“Tracey and Martailo’s success is remarkable,” Wojtylak said. “We awarded Tracey with a saddle pad for this win, and hopefully she’ll notice a significant difference in him after using our products.”

Kelly O’Shea Duncan and Baryshnikov Win FEI Intermediaire I Sponsored by Classic Equine Equipment at Gold Coast Grand Finale I
Kelly O’Shea Duncan and her Hackney horse, Baryshnikov, brought home the blue in the FEI Intermediaire I class at the Gold Coast Dressage Association’s Grand Finale I. This wasn’t O’Shea Duncan and Baryshnikov’s first trip into the winner’s circle in the Intermediaire I class, as the pair have been consistent winners in the division throughout the winter show circuit.

Sponsored by Classic Equine Equipment, a nationally recognized leader in quality horse stall systems and stable accessories, O’Shea Duncan won a polar fleece vest from Classic Equine. “The Classic Equine stalls are so beautiful and I would love to have a barn with their stalls. It would be fantastic,” O’Shea Duncan said.

O’Shea Duncan said that during the show Baryshnikov went into the Grand Finale I class, “A little up, but settled down once he got in the ring. Then he tried really hard and I am so proud of him,” she said.

Baryshnikov is currently one of the top Hackney dressage horses in the country, and has been in the national rankings in the open division in the USDF and USEF. “I bought him a few years ago out of a field, and he was untrained and unbroken. He was supposed to be a four-in-hand driving team member, but his markings didn’t match the rest of the team,” O’Shea Duncan said, adding that she hopes to compete Baryshnikov at Gladstone this year.

Adam Busse, owner of Classic Equine Equipment, was pleased that O’Shea Duncan and Baryshnikov were back in the winner’s circle. “I want to congratulate Kelly and Baryshnikov on a very successful season. I know Kelly has a couple of our polar fleece vests and I know she will wear them proudly,” Busse said.

Bent Jensen and Saracen Win Highlife Cup At Gold Coast Dressage Grand Finale I
Danish Olympic rider Bent Jensen turned in a spectacular ride on Saracen, an Oldenburg stallion owned by Michael Bitely, at the Gold Coast Dressage Association’s Grand Finale I, earning a 73.158% to win the USEF Second Level Test 1 Open class. Jensen and Saracen not only rode into the winner’s circle, but also took home the Highlife Cup for earning the highest score by a Warmblood at the show.

“I’m very happy with this win and about winning the Highlife Cup. I have been working with Saracen at Second Level since January and hopefully he will now move up. This was a great way to end Second Level,” Jensen said.

Jensen, who operates Bent Jensen Dressage in Wellington, said he is pleased with the seven-year-old stallion. “Saracen is easy to train, learns fast and I’ve never had a stallion that’s as easy to take to a show as he is. He is really sweet,” Jensen said, adding that he will remain in Wellington over the summer to train and teach clinics. “I am very happy that Highlife sponsors the Highlife Cup. I think it is great to recognize Warmbloods that excel, and I believe we are lucky to have a breeder of Highlife’s caliber in Florida.”

The Highlife Cup, sponsored by Highlife Farms is awarded to the highest scoring Warmblood at select dressage shows in South Florida during the 2010 winter circuit. Highlife Farms, owned by Kenny and Joan Sims, is home to world-class sport horses and is one of the country’s most prominent breeding farms. Highlife Farms offers equestrians the opportunity to buy European quality sport horses born and bred in the United States.

“Saracen is a lovely stallion and it is always a joy to watch Bent compete,” said Joan. “Kenny and I have enjoyed sponsoring the Highlife Cup at the dressage shows, it has been a very rewarding experience.”

Highlife Farms is home to many well-known dressage horses, including Der Euro OLD, a 1998 Oldenburg gelding (Don Schufro/Waldroeschen/Wanderer), famous winner of the 2002 Bundeschampionate who is currently schooling Grand Prix with Highlife’s head trainer Olympian Lisa Wilcox. Highlife also owns Der Euro’s full brother, Der Dollar, a 2003 Oldenburg stallion that was honored in 2006 as USDF Southeast Breeders’ Champion and is currently competing in the Prix St. Georges with Jessica Kozel. Highlife Farms has many wonderful stallions including Diamond Stud out of the famous stallion Diamond Hit and elite mare Loretta.

ENDS